Fender vs Ibanez - Which guitar has the best tone? 

People are dumb as fuck for thinking there is a objective "best tone" I own multiple guitars from both brands and I can tell you difference does not equate superiority. Its about what you like and what you feel is best for the context you are playing. Don't let people ruin your musical journey. Go research and experience all sorts of guitars yourself first hand.

And the winner is: A good amp.

It honestly depends on what type of music it is used for. Strats, due to their single coils, are better played for stuff ranging from light blues to hard rock (like Bon jovie or Bruce Springsteen) while ibanez is more suited for hard rock to anything metal (such as KoRn and slipknot) BUT... Ibanez does produce rg models with coil splitters that can turn humbuckers into single coils. I'd have to hand this one to ibanez. I'm not really bias toward either one especially since I play on ESP guitars.

I prefer the Ibanez purely because of the humbuckers that create a 'big', 'thick' sound which sounds smooth and full.

Definitely Ibanez for me. I've been an Ibanez guy ever since I started playing 7 years ago. Not a huge fan of single coil pickups and the twangy Start sound. I understand that they're classic guitars and such, and I have respect for them. But they're just not my taste. Great shred by the way!

That was a great demonstration. The main thing I noticed is it's essentially humbucker vs single coil. I gotta admit I thought the Ibanez sounds better for rock/fusion shredding. I bet strat sound is superior for chord work though. Ps Sick solos man, you are really really good.

Tone is subjective. There is no better or best. It's what works for the individual.

This guy looks like nicholas cage and the rock combined.

if you're Rick Graham, even a £30 pawnshop guitar sounds amazing

Any guitar, in the right hands, has the potential to sound better than most guitars three times the cost of it.

Both tones are great... each one with his own character...

I realize this is from 2013, but the most pleasant surprise for me was the 60’s Classic player! While not known for shredding, Rick shows how the Player makes the biggest difference and I find great encouragement to keep on playing what I have, less time pining for what I don’t have!!!P.S.I love them All

Sick playing. The Fenders just sound like they aren't made for this type of music (just my opinion). Put that amp in "clean" and the Fender will devour the Ibanez. Ibanez are generally way better for metal. Fender way better for clean / classic rock.

I like the Ibanez more, but both of them were humbuckers, while the stratocasters had single coil pickups only

Who cares what the sound is like? This guy is a god!

Different styles for different people, different scenarios. People use Fender usually in a vintage, classic rock sense, while most Ibanez users are very modern and technical. But every players different so it's ALL down to personal preference.

ibanez for shred fender for blues

Love all of the tones. Love the meat and roundness of the humbuckers natural tone, but those single coil sounds are equally as meaty. You can always add meat to sounds with EQ, especially when overdriven or distorted. What I really love about those single coils is the attack on the strings. That twang, bell like tone as the pick hits the string, followed by that "crystal" type bright glassy sound, is incredible.

Your sound is so heavily processes that the guitars actually sound quite similar. That said, the strat tone is quite unmistakeable (twangy). And let's be fair man, stratocasters aren't usually made for this type of music. I'd like to hear the same comparison on a ritchie sambora strat. Great playing by the way

it's all up to opinion, and of course the style of music your playing. the fender is more of classic rock and blues music where as the ibanez is for more modern rock and metal music. But that's just my opinion

3:40 oh my God my one dream is to one day play like that.. been playing guitar for about 9 years and the fastest song I can play is cliffs of dover by Eric Johnson

I'm an Ibanez player myself, and I prefer their tone, especially in this instance. I am not a fan of the Stratocaster twang, unless you are playing a blues song or something that doesn't have much distortion, but even then I would rather play one of my S series guitars. But in the end it's all up to what you like.

Strat player and proud of it! I do like the ibanez's sound but I really prefer the strat's neck size (Ibanez is too thin) and the strat is beautiful to look at.

Ibanez has a meatier sound.....more color in the notes

With all that processed distortion they all sound too similar to matter. Clean, Ibanez guitars (in my opinion) sound too thin, even with humbuckers. Strats of course (usually) sound wonderful clean. Great playing btw

the second strat... awesome

Tone is not a comparable matter. Tone is taste. Some prefer chicken, others prefer fish. Others like me would like ALL of them and bring both guitars home :D

The one that burns brightest when set on fire is the best.

the hell with what guitar, the dude playing KILLS on all of them!!!!

I have a Strat and an Ibanez Prestige RG. I use either one depending on the mood or energy of the song/track I'm working on. This means I may even use a Strat for heavy music and the Ibanez for ambient music. I don't feel comfortable limiting the range of my guitars.

Ibanez sounds better for the style you're playing.

Ibanez

This dude is amazing I don't think I have said that ever on youtube much guitar playing as I watch.... this dude isn't just fast he sounds super good everything is catchy, just amazing to watch and listen to him.

Soundwise my opinion doesn't matter (but I do prefer Ibanez), because in the end only the opinion of the player matters. If you love the sound of your Fender, fine, if you love your Ibanez guitars like I do, then that's fine. But, when it comes to technology, innovation, ergonomics and "bang for bucks" - well, Ibanez clearly wins there. I want an instrument that not only sounds the way I imagine it, but that also feels/plays exactly like I want it to. Fender clearly is totally off there for me (except for strats with pure maple fretboards... but these I like because my first el-cheapo strat copy had one and I like the difference compared to rosewood fretboards both in feel and in sound), because I want perfect ergonomics for my hands and there simply is no "off-the-shelf" neck from Fender that could compare to the ultra smooth and just plain "sexy" feel that the neck of my S570DXQM-BBB has. Touching it feels like softly caressing the cheeks of a beautiful woman - it gives me goose bumps from my head down to my toes. Everytime I walk past it, I have to touch it. ;) Sorry, but I never had any other guitar in my hands (and I had a lot in the past 11 years) that even remotely compares to it.

That playing is just incredible. I actually liked the neck pickup of that '87 Jap Strat quite a bit! So many scrumptious licks all throughout this clip. Absolutely inspirational. Thank you.

Amazing playing as always Rick! I love the rich tone of the Ibanez guitars with your style of playing/godly shredding (probably down to a combination of articulate picking, darker tonewoods and the humbuckers). I loved both, but for my style of playing I prefer the Strat, because of the tonal versatility of having 3 pickups, powerful tone pot, and with the bright sounding tonewoods. Really cuts through nicely with lead and rhythm playing!

Something warm and comfy in old Fender's. All Ibanez guitars looks like gentlemen in perfect suits)) I use both Ibanez and Fender, and in this video I prefer first Ibanez and first Strat.

That Ibanez is sexy

9 years later, I still enjoy this improve when I need to relax or think

Purely subjective. I've heard Jazz guys play Ibanezes to great effect, and let's not forget that Eric Johnson and Yngwie Malmsteen--shred-heads par excellence--play strats. No such thing as "better tone," except to each individual person's ears. I wouldn't choose the Ibanez, I find them a bit flat-sounding, and the necks are too thin for my tastes. I like the sparkle and twang of a Strat with a nice warm tube overdrive and a dash of chorus… Mmm. Sweet, sweet jazz chords. But hey, that's just my opinion. and we all know what that's worth. Try them out and draw your own conclusions.

Ibanez And PRS have the most amazing Finishes imo

There's a difference in tone but what makes the guitars sound great whatever brand it is; the skills of the one who plays it.You made all those guitars sound similarly awesome,Rick.GODBLESS.

I think the guitars are both great for different reasons. It goes without saying that the Ibanez works incredibly well with higher-gain, more intense tones, and the Strat works well with mid-to-low gain tones, so it's better for classic and blues rock.Both cool guitars, though I would only prefer the Ibanez as a guitar because it has 24 frets, a floyd rose system, AND humbuckers, so that's really it

They’ve all got their place. Great tones and great playing!

I really like both a lot. My first pride and joy was my Ibanez RG2EX2 and I still love it. I also adore most Fender guitars I've played. I play mostly metalcore and pop punk and love the way they both sound.

I don't know if it's digital recording, or digital effects, or the compression effect one gets from uploading to youtube or what, but to listen to this is in another room, it's very hard to tell when you have switched guitars. So when someone says they hate one tone or the other, when they are in fact so close to each other, seems pretty silly to me. I am, and have been, and will likely remain a humbucker guy. I think that is the actual difference maker, it should be "Humbucker vs. Single Coil" not Ibanez vs. Fender. They both sound tasty to me. More proof the sound is in a player's hands, not his gear.

1:50 OOH OOOOOOH!! Is that THE LICK?

Rick, they all sound awesome. I have heard many players and the phrasing and feel of your playing is among the very best. You are expressing yourself wonderfully on any instrument. Keep up that magical playing mate.

This isn't helpful or relevant but, you're in fantastic shape man! Good work :)

something about that red strat...

Amazing playing I liked all guitars but my favorite would be the 2nd Ibanez. Thank you for the demo

I prefer the first Strat.

I dig them both tone wise. Just depends on what type of vibe you want. Obviously a strat does that "strat thing" really well. And may be a bit more versatile overall than a Ibanez rg. But with the right pickups you can coax some similar "strat"sounds out of any Ibanez rg. But it'll never be a strat though unfortunately. Ibanez are straight up metal machine's. They get you right where you want to be if you dig hard rock and metal. Where as fenders tend to have more of a classic rock vibe. I'm partial to Ibanez since that's all I own lol though. But a great comparison video!

Very hard for other guitars to beat that classic neck pickup sound of a Strat for me. SO good. I like the bridge position of the Ibanez guitars best though. Either of them. lol

I prefer the sound of Ibanez more.

Ibanez has a sharper and more defined tone, but the strat has a warm and full tone. It would be awesome if a company came up with pickups and configurations that took advantage of both worlds.

The Ibanez guitars are very similar in sound, so the strats. Great demo.

Ibanez !!!

3:30 uff this is amazing, i had an eargasm 🤣

Phenomenal playing. The audience couldn’t care less which guitar you’re playing.

Omg, I love the improvisation! I can't decide which has the better tone. I love both. Good job, man! Greetings from Germany!

Honestly, the more I play guitar (currently been playing for 20 years), my ear tells me the strat has the better tone. Nothing cuts through the mix like that liquid slap back when noodling the strings. I currently rock both an Ibanez RG and a Stratocaster. Great shredding by the way. Natural feel and perfect tone!

Both sound incredible, love both of them!

Both are good but Ibanez is leagues clearer and crisper.

Both sound amazing but I'd have to go with the strat.

rick graham I am an admirer of your technique. you are a guitarist of a level beyond excellence

How could anyone hate a Strat. The strat sounded amazing

ibanez with my eyes closed.....

I love the sound of the '87 MIJ Strat. I've got a MIJ Strat myself, FSR Lmt Ed '58 Strat reissue from 2013. Sounds just like a vintage '50's Strat. Japanese Fenders are so amazing!

I like 1st ibanez, fender classic, texas ibanez, 1st fender

Ibanez has the clearer tone, needed for shredding, or simply metal music guitar. Strat is for blues, or simply Jimmy Hendrix like music.

With playing like that, a First Act would sound awesome.

Strat is more organic. Vintage sound. Ibanez modern sound.

2:49, my face melted.

I love the sound of the Ibanez ever since I got my Roadster II back in those days.

Im such a Ibanez fangirl but I love strat tone so much

Ibanez premium or prestige or jem kills a fender on every level ....

Ibanez RGPR2-Texas Special is a really nice balanced smooth sound compared to the others. Really like the clarity, less throaty or character compared to the strat sounds

It always amuses me the way people pidgeon-hole guitars - e.g. - an Ibanez MUST be used for metal. Sorry but I mostly play blues and blues rock, and I love my two Ibanez guitars for that.

Stupid question really - its all about taste...I have both :-)

Hey, I did listen to all 4. I play s RG5Ex1. Listening to all of them. I like sound quality of the 2 RGs. However the Strats sound good and can't be replaced. The note tone produced by the double humbuckers gets 1st place.

Fender sounds fatter and cuts more, which I like. Either way, both sound over processed.

I think he knows sound is subject to the listener. He's asking which one you like best.

The First and the Last~ (no pun unintended) That 1st Ibanez has a very warm tone, love the resonance and sustain. That last Fender was just funky! Nasty! and punchy. However, for live performance, the 2nd Red Strat is just Classic! That's what I'd take along for the show, but the other 2 I would enjoy most banging around on in the shed.

I adore the stratocaster sound. but i am disgusted by the looks i have to prefer ibanez

The first RG was my fave, by quite a factor, followed by the other ibanez. I really didn't like the strats. too thin and bitey for my taste.

This video right here is why the Ibanez AZ line is so incredible. The modern features of guitar brand that have decided to innovate, combine with the classic authenticity of a fender. I have the Tim Henson signature, it’s the best of both worlds. I seriously love the guitar

Ibanez= prog, metal, math rock, hard rock Strat= blues, blues rock, funk,

all i hear is a great player. a squier would also sound amazing between his hands... gear is secondary, only skills matter ;)

That last Fender sounded amazing. WOW!!!

I use a Jem with a Fender tone hehe🕺🏼🥇

Comparing single coils to humbuckers tho

Never mind the guitars! They all sound awesome with you playing them. Damn I love your playing. So fluid and articulate...great stuff!

the Fenders just sounded way too bright to me clean a fender sounds great an ibanez sounds pretty good in crunch they sound equally good and from gain increases from there onwards the ibanez will destroy the strat

son of krypton! playing guitar instead of saving the world

This is exactly what I needed. I own a Fender and an Ibanez, but the Ibanez needs more work than the Fender. I wasn't sure if I should fix her up, but I am going to for sure. ( Hopefully it'll sound a pico smidge of what yours does)

has no one seen a Jim root strat/tele/jag here? Fender make great metal Guitars and Ibanez have a great selection of quality guitars, Loads of Hollow bodied, 335 style guitars? Both companies are great.. For the player it is totally down to preference on what shape you like, what headstock/colours ect.. This video is further evidence that your sound is in your fingers, he shreds equally well on all 4 guitars, and those 4 guitars all sound great but in the hands of someone less experienced they would sound shit.

The more I look for reviews the more I get confused , at first I was so sure that I wanted a Fender stratocaster then a Les Paul and now Ibanez I don't know what to get, I most likely wanna play rock and metal and I'm still a beginner I've never owned a guitar before. If you guys could help me with your suggestions it would be greatly appreciated I have a 400$ budget

I didn't like any of the 'tones'. However, if i had to choose I would plumb for the third guitar - Ibanez followed by the fourth Fender Strat Player. They both had a slightly mellow tone with edge, rather than just pure edge. I am sure that some coloration using delay and other pedals would improve all four guitars. I am a fender convert, but for specific tunes Ibanez cannot be beaten, so I guess it comes down to what piece of music one plays when selecting what guitar. Many thanks for making the video I enjoyed it very much.

I prefer Ibanez for all the stuff where an Ibanez actually fits, like Jazz, Postrock, or every kind of Metal, but you aren't going to play Funk on an Ibanez. You won't play Rock'n'Roll on an Ibanez. You won't play Blues on an Ibanez. One isn't better than the other, they're just built with different specs in mind and they're made for different purposes. Do I think that Ibanez will still get you a better quality instrument at every price bracket? Yes, which is why I own one; I don't have the money to spend on a high-quality Fender but even then both of those companies do fairly well with pricing, much better than Gibson and a few others. Do I think that affordability is somehow a substitute for having the right guitar for the style of music you're playing? No.